Poster text: ESSENTIAL WOLOF PHRASES; Salam alaykum! Peace be upon you; Maalikum salaam, And upon you peace; Noo tudd? What is your name? Maa ngi tudd... My name is...; Na nga def? How are you? Maa ngi fi rekk, I am here only/fine; Naka sa yaram? How is your health?; Jërëjëf. Amul solo, You're welcome; Ñaata la? How much is it? Teemeer la, It's 100; Waaw, Yes; Déedéet, No; Ba beneen yoon. Until next time / Goodbye.

“Expressions Ouolof Essentielles”

Na nga def. – Hello. (singular)
Na ngeen def. – Hello everybody. (plural)
Jaam nga fanane. – Good morning.
Jamm nga yendoo. – Good afternoon.
Fanaanal jaam. – Goodnight.
Ba beneen. – Goodbye.
Su la nexee. – Please.
Jai-rruh-jef. – Thank you.
Agsil. – You’re welcome. (singular)
Agsileen ak jaam. – You’re all welcome. (plural)
Baal ma. – Sorry./Pardon.
Wau. – Yes.
Deh-det. – No.
Jaam nga am? – Have you peace? (How are you?)
Jaam rek. – Peace only. (I’m fine.)
Yow nag? – And you?
Naka-nga sant? – What’s your first name?
Maa ngi tudd … . – My name is … .
Fan nga dahk? – Where do you live?
Fan nga joghe? – Where are you from? (singular)
Fan ngeen joghe? – Where are you all from? (plural)
Maa ngi joghe les USA. – I’m from the USA.
Deg nga Angale? – Do you speak English?
Deg nga Faranse? – Do you speak French?
Angale rekk laa degg. – I speak only English.
Degg naa tuuti Faranse. – I speak a little French.
Mahn deggumah Wolof. – I don’t speak Wolof.
Mahn deggumah Faranse. – I don’t speak French.
Degguma. – I don’t understand.
Dama bahggoon … . – I’d like … .
Fahn la … ? – Where is … ?
Soreh na? – Is it far?
Cha kanam. – Straight ahead.
Chammoon. – Left.
Ndeyjoor. – right.
Dugghal waay! – Get in!
Lii naata? – How much is this?
Seer na torob. – It’s too much.
May ma jaam! – Leave me alone!

Wolof Learner’s Dictionary

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174 responses to “Some Essential Wolof Phrases”

  1. Amadou Croff Avatar

    Comments have been reopened on this post…please join the community!

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    1. Amadou Croff Avatar

      Help us out by doing all the usual: like, comment and share!

      Liked by 1 person

  2. Basic Wolof Phrases – Janga Wolof Avatar

    […] original list here: Some Essential Wolof Phrases For help with pronunciation see: Pronunciation […]

    Liked by 1 person

  3. Lorilee Ingrum Avatar
    Lorilee Ingrum

    Really good site,thank so much for your effort in writing the posts.

    Like

  4. Paul Marchessault Avatar

    Great blog. Thanks for posting.

    Like

  5. Serv Avatar

    Hi, sometimes I get a 400 site error when I arrive at this webpage. I thought you may wish to know, regards

    Like

  6. Frida Diakhate Avatar
    Frida Diakhate

    Hi everyone, love this thred. Im married to a Senegalese man and we have lots of trouble with comunicaions, from both languagebarriers and cultural diffrencies, yean and the common woman/man challenge.

    What does “nou nou” mean? For example “Fofo nou nou” or “nou no la”
    How to say “I wish people could have more patienser” and “I wish we could understand eachother better”
    And a Word for Communication

    Like

    1. Frida Diakhate Avatar
      Frida Diakhate

      sorry it should be “Patience”
      ans please, what is the words for humility and pride
      Jerejeff

      Like

  7. Alfa Avatar
    Alfa

    Living in NY since ’98, I found out long ago each English vowel can have up to 5 or 6 different sounds; unlike the English we were taught in Senegalese High school..
    Wolof pronunciation is easier because each vowel has but one sound if I am not mistaken, like French. Because we wolof speakers don’t have our own alphabet; we use the french one .
    The A in wolof or french always sounds like the O in Mott or robOt; well unless the A is succeeded by the vowel i or u.
    The O in wolof, mostly sounds the same as the O in bOy; unless it is succeeded by U or i ; but I can’t think of a Wolof word with oi sound.

    Like

  8. New Avatar

    What does this mean?
    Fo rek
    Wa douma fo touti sakh

    Like

    1. Alfa Avatar
      Alfa

      Fo rek : “you play too much/ playing is the only thing you do”.
      “Douma fo touti sakh ” (nothing wrong with playing a bit)

      Like

      1. kings Avatar
        kings

        Can you tell me what the following means: lonek yagiu ci diam

        Like

  9. Happy2Learn Avatar
    Happy2Learn

    What does Balnala mean?

    Like

    1. Anna Avatar
      Anna

      Kheweul – happiness, often heard in the phrase ‘jamm ak kheweul’ – peace and happiness.

      Balnaala – I forgive you, often used at festivals when people say ‘balma ak’ – forgive me, to others who reply ‘balnaala’.

      Like

  10. molly Avatar
    molly

    can someone tell me what does “khewuel” means??

    Like

    1. Alfa Avatar
      Alfa

      Khewel literally means Luck/opportunity

      Like

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